Denso in-vehicle sensors able to detect pedestrians at night

The improved image sensors are expected to increase pedestrian safety and prevent traffic accidents

Technology that can detect pedestrians, even during night-time conditions, developed by automotive components manufacturer Denso aims to boost pedestrian safety and prevent traffic accidents at night.

Currently, in-vehicle sensors are used to identify white lines on roads and objects ahead. However, Denso has worked alongside Sony Semiconductor Solutions to develop more sensitive in-vehicle vision sensors capable of detecting pedestrians, particularly at night when more traffic accidents are known to occur. Sony, which holds the largest share of the global image sensors market, manufacturers highly sensitive image sensors used in digital cameras, smartphones and other home electronics, to enable cameras to take clear images of objects even at night.

Denso said it has improved the quality of Sony’s image sensors, providing “increased ease of installation, greater heat resistance and vibration resistance” to support its integration onto vehicle-mounted vision sensors. Through using Sony’s image signal processors (ISPs), Denso has also reduced noise and further optimised camera exposure parameters to take clearer images and identify pedestrians at night.

The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) is considering including night-time pedestrians within the scope of collision avoidance in its safety performance evaluation standards for automatic braking systems. Denso said that its newly developed vision sensors will help meet and exceed these upcoming safety standards and reduce the rate of night-time collisions.